Excavating-bucket.



w M. VENABLE. EXCAVATING BUCKET.

' APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1' 19'7- 1,258,833. Patented Mar. 12,1918,

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W. M. VENABLE. EXCAVATING BUCKET. APPLICATION FILED mac. 1. I917.

1,258,833. Patented Mar. 12. 1918.

5 SHEETHHEET 2- W. M. VENABLE.

QXCAVATING BUCKET. Anucn'nou FILED Dec. 1. m1.

1,258,833. Patentd Mar. 12, 1918.

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W. M. VE-NABLE.

v YEXCAVATIN'G BUCKET.-

APPLICATION mso'ozc. 1. 19H. 1,258,833. Patented Mar. 12, 1918 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4- wrrutss Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

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HWNH d UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. VENABLE, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BIIAJW- INOX- COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY. I

EXCAVATING-BUGKET.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILIJA'M M. VEN- ABLE, a citizen of the United. States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Alle-' gheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Excavating-Buckets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to excavating buckets, and. more particularly to the clam shell type of bucket which commonly consists of a pair of hinged scoop segments supported at their outer corners and adapt ed to be opened and closed by lowering or raising the main or bucket hinge and operated automatically by a single operating line or cable or adapted to be opened by a trip line controlled by the operator.

This invention has for its principal objects,-the provisionof a bucket that may be operated entirely by a single line, that is, a. bucket that may be closed to receive a charge, elevated and its contents dumped and another charge taken by manipulation of one operating cable which supports the bucket; the provision of a bucket that may be caused to open and discharge its contents by a manually operated trip line if desired; the provision of a simple effective folding link carrying the loner sheave whereby, when folded, it will be held in folded position by the weight of the bucket and which.

may, without the use of any latches and triggers, be unfolded to lowerthe bucket hinge to open the bucket simply by shifting the position of the link so that the weight of the bucket will pull it open; the provision of a bucket having a lower sheave having two relative supporting positions with respect to the bucket hinge so that the bucket may be dropped away from the lower sheave to open the bucket, the said means for holding the sheave in either relative position requiring no latches or triggers and therefore will operate and function properly regardless of wear; the provision of a bucket wherein the lower sheave will lie tooneside of the upper parts of the bucket when open, so that a ho k or block secured to the overhead supponz may clearall parts and may be lowered close to the lower sheave in case the cable loop is close to the sheave; and such other objects as may hereinafter appear. One embodiment of the Specification of Letters ratent. Patented Ma 12, 1918;

I Application filed December 7, 1917. Serial No. 205,911.

invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a. side elevation of the bucket in its wide open position as it would appear with the bucket resting upon the earth and the cable slacked; Fig. 2 IS a side elevation of the bucket in the act of being closed by a.

extreme open position shown in Fig. 1, but v with the lower sheave block shown in its raised position.

Referring to the drawings, the bucket apparatus comprises a pair of scoop segments 1 and 2 pivoted together by a hinge 3. The outer corners of the segments or scoops 1 and 2 are supported by corner bars 4 and 5, respectively, which are pivoted at their lower ends to the scoop by pins 6 and 7 'respectively The upper ends of the bars are pivotally oined by means. of the corner-bar pivot 8.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the corner bars are pivoted to each side of the scoop segments and are held in spaced relation adjacent their supper ends by a sheave block support 9 which is securely bolted to the corner bars 5. This support carries a sheave block 10, to which is pivot ed for rotation, a pair of sheaves 11. The support also carries apair of downwardly projecting sheave stops 12 adapted to arrest the upward movement of a lower sheave, to tie hereinafter described.

It will be seen, by reference to the drawings, that if the corner bars are supported,

the bucket may be opened by lowering the bucket hinge 3, and may be closed by raising the bucket hinge.

The bucket is operated by a pair of-ca blcs 13 spaced. apart so that they will prevent the bucket fromrotating upon the cables as an axis, but in operation and effect they are the so me as a single cable and will hereinafter be treated as such.

A single line can readily be used by simply ating link 17 hinged at one end to the free end of the link 16' by a link pivot 18. The

free end of the locking link 17 carries the sheave block l h the' center of which, when the folding link is folded, lies against the curved portion of the supporting link 16 at 19, (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3) so that its center lies to the right of the plane of the hinge 3 and the link pivot 18. Therefore, if the block, is raised, it will be held adjacent the hin efby the foldin link which will remain in olded position ecause the hinge pivot 18 will remain on the left side of the plane of the lower sheave center and the bucket hinge 3. Referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen from the above that the folding link is held in folded position by the Weight of the bucket when the lower sheave 15 is supported without the aid of any special latches, levers or triggers which would become worn and fail.

. The orbit of the lower sheave 15 is determined with respect to point on the scoop segment 2' by a pair of radius rods '20, pivoted at one end to the corner bar corner bar pivot 8.

pivots 7 and at the other end to the lower sheave shaft 21. These rods wlll cause the folding link to always fold by ravity and move the sheaves l5.t,o the position shown in Fig. Lwhen the bucket is resting upon r the ground in 40'" I (pen position. It will be seen that the sheav, 's' 15, when in lowermost position, lie to one side of the bucket hinge andare not directly under the corner bar pivot 8.- Therefore, ablock may be lowered from a crane and the hook thereof fastened to the loop 13 without interference with the Thecable 13 is reeved down around a sheave 15, up and around a sheave 1 1 and :down around the j under side of a second sheave15 and thence to an anchor clip 92 which .is securedto the scoop segment 2.

' The -cable is fastened to the clip 22 at 23,

'zwhich point is intermediate the outer cornor of the scoo segment and the-hinge 3.

The purpose 0 securing the cable at this point is to limit the downward movement of thebucket hin e 3 when the sheave 15' is supported in t e position indicated in Fig. 1, and the folding link unfolded. Stops 24 are secured to eachscoop segment 7 to limit the downward opening of the 'bucket when the scoop segments are resting upon the ground as illustrated in Fig. 1, but in order to avoid shock to the bucket elenients when the hinge 3i's suddenly dropped by the unfolding of the folding link, tire cable 13 is secured at apoint between the outer scoop support 7 and the hinge 3 so that the downward movement is arrested will be seen that the bucket hinge 3, and the lower sheave pivot 21, are in the same plane while the folding link pivot 18 lies to the left of that plane. It will also be seen that the folding link cannot be unfolded without moving the link pivot 18 to the right of the plane of the hinge 3, pivot 21. To accomplish the movement of the link pivot 18 to the right past the said plane, it is necessary to prevent movement of the sheave ivotQl to the right. is accomplished by the radius bar 20. The link pivot may be moved to the right by two methods; first, the bucket may be lowered to the earth so that it will rest in closed position. Further slacking of the cable will permit the folding lever to fall toward the right of the hinge 3 because the center of ravity of the folding link is to the right of t. e said hinge. After the folding lever has shifted This and the sheaveso that the link pivot '18 lies to the right of a the sheave pivot 25, pulling up of the cable will 'unfo-ld the folding link and cause the bucket to open and discharge its load. Second, the folding link may be unfolded while the bucket is suspended above the earth by means of a trip lever 26 pivoted to the corner bars by the pivot pin 27. This lever carries at one end a downwardly projecting trip arm 28 which is normally held in the position indicated in Fig. 3, by reason of the greater weight ofthe trip lever 26. If thetrip lever 26 is normally raised, by the pulling of any suitable connecting means; the trip arm 28 will engage the, folding link adjacent the link-pivot 18 and move it to the right of the sheave pivot The weight of the bucket will immediately pull the link pivot 18 to the right still farther and unfold the link causing the bucket to open rapidly. As previously stated, the shock will be absorbed by the cable by reason of its connection with the bucket segment between the outer support I and the bucket hinge 3.

In some cases it is desirable to open the bucket automatically by manipulation of the operating cable alone, in which case the first described method of opening is employed. In other cases it may not be expedient to lower thebucket to open it, so the trip lever 20 is provided so that the bucket may beshown in Fig. 1, it will be seen that all parts occupy the position shown by reason of the eflects of gravity and that thehinge 3 is limited in its downward movement because the stops 24 are in engagement. .flhus the hinge and sheaves are held out of contact with the earth to be excavated. 'Pullin'g'npward on the cable 13 will cause the hinge 3' to be raised and the scoop drawn together and at first the parts will occupy the position indicated in Fig. 2. Finally the bucket will be closed, and the parts will occupy the position illustrated in Fig. 3. If the trip lever 26 is then operated to move the hinge pivot 18 to the right of the sheave pivot 25, the Wei ht of the bucket will unfold the link an discharge the load, and the arts will assume the position shown in Fig. 4. The stop 12 then, revents further upward movement of the siiea've 15 byreason of its engagement with the stop.

If the bucket is then lowered to the earth again the radiusrod 20 will cause the bl0Ck' 14 and sheaves 15 to fall toward the left be brought to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 by the force of gravity. When the folding link has been closed it is automatically locked against unfolding and pulling on the cable Wlll again first raise the bucket hinge 3 to close it and then hold the bucket closed while the bucket is being raised. The

cycle of operation may then be repeated.

Inthe event that the bucket is to be operated entirely by the operating cable without the use of a trip line, after the bucket has been filled, its contents may be dumped by lowering the: closed bucket upon the round and playin slack to the cable. The

olding link will t en fall to the right in the manner reviously described and auto 'matically un ock the folding-link. Subsequent pulling up of the cable will open the bucket and 'dlscharge the load and the parts will occupy the position shown in Fig. 4.

1 The bucket may then be lowered to receive another load.

. It is obvious that many changes may be made in the details of the construction without departing from the spirit ofthe invention and the invention is not limited to the specific structure herein disclosed.

-' What. I claim is:

1'. An excavating bucket comprising in 2. An excavating" bucket comprising in combination, a pair of scoop segments, a hinge for joining the segments so that'they may be opened and closed by vertical movement of the bin e, a cable for supporting the hinge, cable with the segment hinge adapted when folded and supporting the bucket hin e to be held in folded position by the Weig t of the bucket and to be unfolded by the weight the bucket hin e to a. 0 d1Ilg=- link connecting the.

link connectmg the of the bucket to' lower the hinge when-the 7 link elements are relatively displaced, and means for relatively displacing the link elenients.

"!*3., An excavating bucket comprising in combination, a pair of scoop segments, a, hinge for joining the segments so that they may be opened and closed by vertical movement of the hinge, a cable for supporting the hinge, and a folding link connecting the cable with the bucket hinge adapted when folded and su porting thebucket hin e'to. be held in fol ed position by the'weig t of the bucket and to be unfolded by weight of the bucket to lower the hinge when the link elements are unfolded a predetermined tance.

4. An excavating bucket comprising in combination, a pair of scoop segments, a

hinge forjoining the segments so that they I may be opened and closed byvertical movement of the hinge a cable forsup'porting the hinge, and a folding link having a joint, connectlng the cable wlth the bucket hinge adapted when folded and supporting the bucket hinge to be held in fo ded" osition by the weight of the bucket with t e joint of the link positioned to one side of the line of; stress between the cable and the bucket hinge and to be unfolded by gravity of the bucket hinge to lower the hinge when the joint of the link has been moved. to the other side of the line of stress between'the cable and the bucket hinge.

5. An excavating bucket comprising in combination a 'pair of scoop segments, a bucket hinge for joining the segments so that theymay be opened and closed by vertical movement of the hinge, corner bars pivoted at their lower ends to the outer or-' tion of the scoop segments and pivote togather. at their upper ends for supporting v the outer portions of the scoop segments, a

sheave for operating the bucket hinge, a cable extendingaround the sheave and secured to the corner bars forsupporting the bucket adapted to draw the sheave toward the. corner bars to close the bucket, and a, folding .link connecting the sheave with the bucket hinge adapted when in folded position, to support the bucket hinge adjacent thesheavemnd to be held in folded posi- 'tion'b the weight of the-bucket, and when in un ol'dedpositionto permit the bucket hinge towlower toopen the scoop se the said folding link being udapte to be ents,

unfolded by the weight of the bucket after the link elements have been relatively displaced a predetermined distance.

6. An excavating bucket comprising in combinations pair of scoop segments, a, bucket hinge for joining the segments so that'they may be opened and closed by vertical movement of the hinge, corner bars pivoted attheir lower ends to the outer ortion of the scoop segments and'pivote toether'at their upper ends for supporting t center-portions of the scoop segments, a sheave for operating the bucket hin e, a, cable extending around the sheave an secured to the corner bars for supporting the bucket ada ted to draw the sheave toward .the'c'orn'er are to close the bucket, a radius bar pivoted at, one end to one of the scoop segments and at the other end to the sheave ada' ted to hold the lower sheave to one side of t ecorher-bar pivot so as to be accessible :from above when the scoop so ents are c n: and supported from beneat when the cave is an Il'S lowermostposition, and a folding link connecting the sheave with the buckethinge adapted, when in folded posi tion, to support the bucket hinge adjacent the sheave and to be held in folded position g,-.unf0lde d bv the weight of the bucket after" ,p te

by the weight of the bucket, and when in unfolded position to permit the bucket hinge to lower to open the scoop se cuts, the said folding link being adapte tobe pieced, a predetermined distance. I

exca'vntingbucket comprising in the link elements have been relatively discoInhihation a-,.pair of scoop segments, a. hinge "for connecting the segments so that the j' -"may-be lopened and closed by substan tia y vertical movement of the hinge, cornerbars pivoted at their lower ends to the outer (portion of the scoop segments and together atth'eir upper ends for supporting the outer portions of the scoop se lents", ,a'folding link connected atone en "Fto' the hinge and having the otherend free and adapted to support the hinge when in folde'd' position and to permit of the opening of the se ments when in unfolded position; and'ia li ing cable extending besegments.

tween the free end of the folding link and the corner bars for drawing the .link toward the corner bars to closethe scoop segments.

8. An excavating bucket comprising in combination a pair of scoop segments, a

hinge for connecting the segments so that v they may be opened and closed by substam tiall vertical movement of the hinge, corner ars pivoted at their lower ends to the outer pivote together at their upper ends for supporting the outer ortions of the scoop segments, a folding link connected at one end to the hinge and having the other end free and adapted to support the hinge when in folded position and to permitof the opening of the segments when in unfolded position, a sheave pivoted to thefree end 01 the aroun the sheave and secured to the corner (portion of the scoop segments andfoldin link, and an operating cahie passing bars adapted to draw the sheave toward the,

corner bars to close the bucket.

9. An excavating bucket for comprising 1n combination a pair of scoop segments, a

hinge for connecting the segments so that they may be opened and closed by substan-j tlally vertical movement of the hinge, corner bars pivoted at their iower ends to the outer portion of the scoop segments and pivoted,

together at their upper ends for supporting the-outer ortions of the scoop segments, a folding llnk connected. at one end to the hinge and having the other end free and adapted to support the hinge when. in folded position and to permit of the opening of the segments when in unfolded position, a

hinge for connecting the segments so that tially vertical movement. of the hinge, corne'r-bars pivoted'at their lower ends to the outer portion. of the scoop segments and pivoted together at their upper ends'for supporting the outer portions of the scoop segments, a folding link connected at one end to the hinge and having the other end free and adapted to support'the hinge when in folded position and to permit of the openof t ie segments when in unfolded ositlon, a sheave pivoted to the free end 0 the folding link, a radius bar :piv'otcd at one end to a scoppsegment and at the other end to the sheave, and an operating cable pass they maybe opened and closed by substaning around the sheave and secured to the bucket, and when unfolded to permit the end to the ments, the said folding link that they may corner, bars, adapted to draw the sheave toward the corner bars to close the bucket.

11. An excawijting bucket comprising in combination a pair-"of .scoop segments, a hinge for connecting the segments so that they may be opened and closed by substanvertical movement of the hinge, corars pivoted at their lower end's'tov the outer portion of the scoop segments and pivoted together at their upper ends for supporting the outer portions of the scoop segments, a folding link connected at one hinge and having the other end free and adapted to support the hinge when .in folded posltion and to permit of the opening of the'segments when in unfolded 081- tion, a sheave pivoted to the free end '0 the folding link, an operating cable passing around the sheave and secured to the corner bars, adapted to draw the sheave toward the corner bars to close-the bucket, a trip member 'or engaging the folding link to move it into unfolding position to lower the hinge and open the scoop segments, and a stop carried by the corner bars adapted to limit the upward movement of the sheave when the folding link has been unfolded.

12. An excavating bucket comprising in combination a pair of scoop segments, abucket hinge for joining the segments so that they may be opened and closed by verti cal movement of tie hinge, corner bars pivoted at their lower ends to the outer portion of the scoop segments and pivoted together at their upper ends for supporting the outer portions 0 the scoop segments, an upper sheave pivoted to the corner bars, a lower sheave for operating the bucket hinge, a cable c'otiper'ating with the upper and lower sheaves for supporting the bucket adapted to draw-the lower sheave toward the upper sheave to close the bucket, and a folding link connecting the lower sheave with the bucket hinge adapted, when folded, to support the bucket hinge adjacent the sheave and to be held in folded position by the weight of the bucket hinge to lower to open the scoo se being adgpte d to beunfolded by the weight of the bucket after the link elements have been relatively displaced a predetermined distance.

13. An. excavating bucket comprising in combination a pair of scoop segments, a bucket hinge for joining the segments so be opened and closed by vertical movement of the hinge, corner bars pivoted at their lower ends to the outer portion of the scoop segments and pivoted toupper ends for supporting gether at their the outer portions of the scoop segments, an upper sheave lower sheave for operating the bucket hinge, a cable passing around the upper and lower sheaves and secured to a scoop segment intermediate the outer corner and the hinge thereof for supporting the bucket and adapted to draw the lower sheave toward r the .upper' sheave to close the bucket, and a 61 link connectin the lower sheave with t ebucket hingea apted, when folded, to support the bucket hlIlfQ adjacent the sheave and to beheld in f0 ded position b the weight of the bucket, and when unfol ed to omit the bucket hinge-tollower to link being adapted to be unfolded by the weight of the bucket after the link elements have been relatively displaced a predetermined distance.

14. In combination, a pair of scoop segments hinged together, corner bars to the outer portions of the scoop segments and to each other at their upper ends, a support carried by said bars, a folding-link connected to-the hinge at one end and havingthe other end-free, a connection between saidfree end and one of the scoop segments and a lifting-cable extending between said free end and the support on said bars, the said foldin link being arranged soils to assume a olded position under the influpnce of gravity when the bucket is supported in open positlon from beneath and the lifting cable is slacked and to maintainsaid folded position and cause the closin of the bucket when lifting force is applie to the cable to cause the folded link to approach such support, and further arranged to permit the openin said link is un oldpd.

15. In combination, a pair of scoop segments hinged together, corner bar s plvoted to the outer portions of and to each other at their upper ends, a support carriedby said bars, a foldin'glink'connccted to the hinge-at one end and having the other end free, a connection between said free cndand one of the scoop segments, and a lifting cable extending between said free end and the support on said bars, thesaid folding link a folded position under the influence of gravity when the'bucket is supported in closed position from beneathand the lifting.

cable is slackened, and to he unfolded to WILLIAM M. vENA'BLn pivoted to the corner .harsg'a' of the segments when the.

the scoop segments-v pivoted being arrangedsoas to assume 

